Essential Doctrines of the Bible (part 7)
We already saw that humankind is in need of salvation. We continue our study on essential doctrines of the Bible by looking at the saving work of Jesus Christ.
Click here to start from the beginning (part 1)
The Saving Work of Jesus Christ
God came in the flesh as Jesus Christ in order to provide salvation for His fallen creation. The Incarnation was for the purpose of the Atonement. The gospel, literally the “good news,” is that Jesus died, was buried, and rose again for our salvation. Unlike any other religion, Christianity depends upon the death and resurrection of its founder.
The holiness of God demands that He separate Himself from sinful humanity. Separation from God, the source of all life, means death—physically, spiritually, and eternally—so God’s holy law requires death as the penalty for sinners. God chose to bind Himself by the principle of death for sin. Without the shedding of blood (the giving of a life) there can be no remission or release from this penalty and no restoration to fellowship with the holy God (Hebrews 9:22). The death of animals is not sufficient to remit our sins (Hebrews 10:4), because we are much greater than they in that we were created in the spiritual image of God. Neither can an ordinary person suffer the penalty in our place, for each one deserves eternal death for his own sins. (more…)
